“I’ve always thought of it as something that was still holding the country back. What people do in their own homes is their business and you can choose to love whoever you love. That’s their business. It’s no different than discriminating against blacks. It’s discrimination plain and simple.”

As it turns out,Elton John, who is openly gay, was listening and he appreciated the support. During an interview with MSNB, Elton talked about his reaction when he heard Jay’s words:

“Jay-Z, who is probably the most respected African American artist, came out and said not only is it wrong to not have gay marriage, but any discrimination in life is wrong. It was an incredibly moving statement.”

Elton also mentioned that he had a great gift waiting for Jay-Z the next time he sees him:

“I take my hat off to him. I respect him so much for doing that. When I next see him, I’m going to give him the biggest hug.”